Basel, May 1941.
Since the visit to the grocery store, the days have been passing in a particularly boring and calm way, nothing strange has happened, Heinrich left for work quite early this morning, so I decided to enjoy my afternoon by cooking.
On days like this, I get bored, and apart from cooking or cleaning the apartment, there's nothing else for me to do. And besides, I don't feel like bothering Suzanne, knowing that she's not doing well, I don't want to be a burden.
The hours pass and my pie is finally ready, the delicious smell of apple and cinnamon mixes in the kitchen, when suddenly someone knocks on the door. It could be Suzanne.
Barely had I opened the door when a man grabbed me by the neck, I felt his hands tightening more and more, my breathing became weaker and weaker. No matter how much I struggled, I didn't have the strength to get away from this man. I started to feel like I was going to pass out, I saw the hatred-filled look in his eyes, he wanted to hurt me, it was obvious, and then he had the same look as those soldiers.
An hour later.
Very slowly, I begin to open my eyes. I feel that my hands are tied, and a thick cloth is placed in my mouth.
-She's awake, look. Says the man.
The blurry image at first becomes clearer and clearer, and I once again see the killer look in the man's eyes, and I see another person, the grocer.
-So, filthy Jew, you thought you were going to live peacefully in this little apartment, you don't deserve this life at all, filthy trash. Snaps the grocer.
Fear seized me so strongly that I didn't even dare blink, afraid they would act in a second.
-We're going to take you where you belong, where all the others are.
The man moved closer to me, panic seized me, I started moving in every direction. No matter how much I screamed for help, all my cries were muffled by the cloth in my mouth. He grabbed me by the neck for the second time, he lifted me into the air. I couldn't do anything, I was stuck here, they were going to take me away or even kill me on the spot.
-Don't kill her, we need her alive.
-Yes, I know. Whispers the man.
He throws me to the ground with such violence that I feel the cloth fill with blood. I'm in terrible pain, tears stream down my face. I no longer know what to do, how could I get out of this? I wish so badly I could scream, simply warn Suzanne or anyone nearby.
-How do you want us to take her? the man asks the grocer.
-There's a door at the back of the building, we'll just have to be discreet while passing through the hallways.
During this discussion, my body was still on the ground, panic and pain preventing me from moving. I'm so scared, I feel like I'm going backward, back into that room. The one that made me realize how cruel human beings can be.
-Come on, grab her and put her on your back, we need to hurry.
I quickly feel my body being lifted, with such ease that it reminded me how thin I was. Suddenly, just as the door was opening, someone struck the grocer and then hit the man who was holding me on his shoulder. My body slammed back onto the ground with all its weight and the pain in my ribs surged again.
-Oh my God, Ruth, are you okay?
My eyes filled with tears, a mix of sadness and joy, just hearing her voice made me feel so much better. She helped me up, removed the cloth from my mouth and sat me down in the armchair.
-Listen Ruth, I knocked those two men out, but I have no idea how long it will be before they wake up.
-We… We can tie them up. I let out, exhausted.
-Good idea, stay there, I'll take care of them.
Suzanne went into the kitchen and I could hear her searching through the drawers, she came back with a rope. I watched her start tying their hands behind their backs. I wanted to help her, but I didn't have the strength to move my legs, then my gaze fell on the telephone on the small table beside me. Despite my weakness, I managed to place my hand on it and started dialing the bakery's number to contact Heinrich as quickly as possible.
-Hello, who is this?
-Heinrich?
-Ruth? Why are you calling me, is something wrong?
-I… I need you to come to the apartment right now, it's urgent.
-What? But what is—
He hadn't even finished his sentence when I hung up. I hope he'll hurry and come here, because I'm still afraid of what could happen, and now that Suzanne is here, I'm afraid for her too.
My gaze now turned to where I had left Suzanne tying up the two strangers. Not seeing her, a wave of panic rose, I turned my head with all my strength and finally spotted her. She was dragging the two men with all her strength into the bedroom.
-There, I finally managed to put them in the bedroom, I locked the door. But now Ruth, you're coming to my place, and we're going to wait for Heinrich, okay?
I nodded, and with Suzanne's help I managed to move toward her apartment. She sat me down on her couch this time, then hurried to lock her door, anxiety was written all over her face. I turned my head to take in her small home, I always loved coming to their place, but Suzanne didn't really like having people over and seeing photos of her son, even if it was me.
But I noticed objects lying on the floor, shards of glass as well as a knife.
-Su… Suzanne, what is all this on the floor?
-Huh? Oh, it's nothing, I dropped something and forgot to pick it up.
-What's going on?
…